As the temperature outside continues to cool, I find myself settling inside with tea and books.

One of my friends recently asked me where I get the ideas from my story. She didn’t really believe me when I told her I get ideas everywhere. Things that happen to me, non-fiction books, songs. “What if” is my favorite phrase.

I have one story that was born from a very bad day and a soundtrack song that made me laugh. My Sinclair Society Series was a what if question: what if a young lady went undercover as a lady’s maid to learn the truth. I have notes in my plot notebook that are associated with songs and my NaNo project this year is pulled from a non-fiction book about mail order brides.

I never really thought there was anything strange about how I draw ideas from the world. Not until this past week. I went on a walk in a local park with my mom. It was a historical site where there was an Indian treaty in 1830. The first thing out of my mouth was:

“Wouldn’t this be a cool setting for a book? You have the governor of Michigan here, representatives from Congress, army troops, and hundreds of Native Americans on both sides of the river. What if there was someone trying to sabotage the treaty? And there was someone who was doing her best to keep that from happening.”

Mom just laughed and shook her head. She said she hadn’t thought about it before but it might be interesting.

And so, another addition to my plot notebook was made. Along with books to do some research on the event. Will I ever write it? I hope so, but there are some ideas that have been waiting in my notebook for almost five years now. 

Anything can be an inspiration for a story.

Is there anything you’ve been inspired to write about or learn more about?